Authentic Self-Care
The idea of self-care was a strange concept, and then it suddenly appeared and quickly penetrated our thoughts. People refer to everything they do to themselves as self-care, which is a critical overview. Still, it does not define actual self-care.
What is self-care?
In general terms, self-care is an activity we practice to promote our mental, physical, and emotional health. Proper self-care can improve our mood and help us avoid anxiety.
In our society today, self-care has become an essential part of most people's lives. All of us deal with great stress every day. For example, 69% of Americans say that thinking about the future of the country causes them stress and current events push people to look for ways to self-care.
Self-care can also be a refuge from personal trauma and grief that we have experienced over time. Seeking treatment and dealing with these feelings is an example of this self-care, and in the end, doing so will help relieve anxiety and allow the person to be happier and more sober.
Deepening into feelings can help self-care practitioners find a higher purpose in their lives as well. Spirituality and beliefs can be a way to achieve this. In addition, some of the ideas involved in self-care can help a person find their way and determine what is important to them; pursuing what is important to the person is a great form of self-care, and then people will no longer seek jobs that cause them stress or unhappiness.
Meditation is also a form of self-care. The mind that is overwhelmed by tension and thoughts does not feel satisfied. On the other hand, if a person practices meditation, they can prevent themselves from thinking negatively. Attendance and vigilance are a great embodiment of self-care. In addition, meditation gives the person time to sit and think alone. Self-care means for most people the time spent alone and renewing their energy for what is coming.
Self-care may also mean helping others, and if a person improves after practicing it, they can share this improvement with society as a whole, and this is another area in which spirituality and self-care seem to go hand in hand. Also, one should not need money or status to do self-care, as it should be a practice that everyone can do.
What is the opposite of self-care?
Unfortunately, the fascinating facts about self-care are beginning to disappear because of what the media promotes as self-care. For example, if you search for the word "self-care" on Instagram, you will see many pictures showing people relaxing. This is not what self-care means. Relaxation time is definitely a way to do this, but the idea of emotional and physical self-care has turned, in some ways, into a purely commercial practice.
In the end, self-care is finding the root cause of what's really bothering you, and relaxing for 15 minutes can surely help you reduce stress, but will that determine why you're feeling troubled? And will it help you address such feelings in the future? Of course not.
As such, this proves how companies have taken the idea of self-care and worked on it. They've made it seem like you need ways or applications of skin care or exercise to improve your self-care, but in reality, they only want to sell you something.
Some people refer to self-care as a negative thing; they say it's selfish for people to take time out of their busy schedule and devote it to themselves, but making sure you have a healthy mind and body will never be a bad thing. It will make you a better partner, parent, and employee.
Addiction specialists ask patients to practice self-care so that they feel good and stay on track. Self-care will allow them to process and overcome the negative emotions that led them to addiction in the first place. Even with less serious problems that may push them to self-care, you can use this practice to address your emotional and physical setbacks, and then no selfishness at all.
How can I take care of myself?
Self-care comes in countless forms, but it's up to you to figure out the methods that will best benefit you in your life and give you the most benefit, so look for self-care ways determined by experts, not companies. Something as simple as eating a healthy meal or getting enough sleep can be self-care, and you'll realize that when you start to feel better after making such a simple change.
In conclusion:
Your practice of self-care shouldn't be complicated, and it doesn't cost you much money either, and no matter how you go about it, one thing is certain: mind, body, and spirit will be better, and that's the point of self-care.